diff --git a/chch-power.py b/chch-power.py
index 8967e57..37d4f6d 100644
--- a/chch-power.py
+++ b/chch-power.py
@@ -1,7 +1,32 @@
 import pifacedigitalio
+import pifacecommon.mcp23s17
 import time
 from subprocess import call
 
+def init_board_no_power_off(self):
+    ioconfig = (
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.BANK_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.INT_MIRROR_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.SEQOP_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.DISSLW_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.HAEN_ON |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.ODR_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.INTPOL_LOW
+    )
+    self.iocon.value = ioconfig
+    if self.iocon.value != ioconfig:
+        raise pifacedigitalio.NoPiFaceDigitalDetectedError(
+            "No PiFace Digital board detected (hardware_addr={h}, "
+            "bus={b}, chip_select={c}).".format(
+                h=self.hardware_addr, b=self.bus, c=self.chip_select))
+    else:
+        self.iodira.value = 0  # GPIOA as outputs
+        self.iodirb.value = 0xFF  # GPIOB as inputs
+        self.gppub.value = 0xFF  # input pullups on
+        self.enable_interrupts()
+
+setattr(pifacedigitalio.PiFaceDigital, 'init_board', init_board_no_power_off)
+
 button_count = 8
 longpress_delay = 0.4
 verylongpress_delay = 2